Viola plant named ‘Sunviofuji’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Viola  plant named ‘Sunviofuji’, characterized by its compact, mounding and trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and light and dark lavender-colored flowers.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Viola cornuta.

Varietal denomination: ‘Sunviofuji’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Viola, botanically known as Viola cornuta and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunviofuji’.

The new Viola is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact Viola cultivars with attractive flower coloration.

The new Viola originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2003, in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, of a proprietary selection of Viola cornuta identified as code number 01V-133-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Viola cornuta identified as code number VF-177-3, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Viola was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new Viola by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since April, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Viola are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Sunviofuji has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunviofuji’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunviofuji’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Viola:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Light and dark lavender-colored flowers.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the new Viola differ primarily in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have white-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Viola have larger flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

Compared to plants of the male parent selection, plants of the new Viola differ primarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have darker lavender-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Viola can also be compared to plants of the Viola cornuta ‘Sunviolabu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/903,541. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Viola and ‘Sunviolabu’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Viola had longer leaves than plants of         ‘Sunviolabu’.     -   2. Plants of the new Viola had slightly smaller flowers than         plants of ‘Sunviolabu’.     -   3. Plants of the new Viola and ‘Sunviolabu’ differed in flower         color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Viola, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Viola. The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunviofuji’ grown in a container. The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Sunviofuji’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the autumn in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures averaging 10° C. and night temperatures averaging 5° C. Plants had been growing for four months when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Viola cornuta cultivar Sunviofuji. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Viola             cornuta identified as code number 01V-133-1, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Viola             cornuta identified as code number VF-177-3, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.—About four weeks             at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and fleshy; light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact, mounding and trailing plant             habit; vigorous growth habit: Freely branching habit; about             25 lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances             branching.         -   Plant height.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Plant width (spread) .—About 27.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About             2.2 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137B; venation, close to 144C. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 144C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 0.9 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144C.         -   Stipule.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Pinnately-parted. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 137B. Color, lower surface: Close to             137C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils;             flowers face obliquely upright. Freely flowering habit with             about 16 flowers per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly scented; pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from early             November to June in Japan. Flowers not persistent.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five to seven             days on the plant.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Lenticular. Color: Close to 83B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.9 cm by 2.9 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Eye diameter.—About 2.7 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five in a single whorl; two             upper petals, two lateral petals and one lower petal,             spurred. Upper petals: Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About             1.8 cm. Shape: Obovate with rounded apex and attenuate base;             margin, entire and slightly undulate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing petals,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to N80A. Fully expanded             petals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N80B; with             development, color becoming closer to 85A with close to N80A             towards the margins.         -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About             1.3 cm. Shape: Elliptic with rounded apex and attenuate             base; margin, entire and slightly undulate. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing and             fully expanded petals, upper surface: Close to 85C; at the             margins, close to N82B; stripes at base, close to 86A.             Developing and fully expanded petals, lower surface: Close             to 85C; at the margins, close to N82B; stripes at base,             close to 86A.         -   Lower petal.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.9 cm.             Shape: Reniform with emarginate apex and attenuate base;             margin, entire and slightly undulate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing and             fully expanded petals, upper surface: Close to 85C; spot             towards the apex, close to between N81B and N82C; stripes at             base, close to 86A; eye, close to 21B. Developing and fully             expanded petals, lower surface: Close to 85C; spot towards             the apex, close to N82C. Spur length: About 6.2 mm. Spur             diameter: About 1 mm. Spur color: Close to 86A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 4.5 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 2.2 mm             by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 1D; towards the apex, close             to 175C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 10D.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             5 mm. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to             154C. Style color: Close to 154D. Ovary color: Close to             137C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Viola have not been noted     to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Viola. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Viola have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures from about −7° C. to about 25° C. 

1. A new and distinct Viola plant named ‘Sunviofuji’ as illustrated and described. 